Under Tang Sen's supervision and call, there were no major mistakes in flood control and disaster relief in various provinces in Jiangnan, and there were no riots in refugees. When the heavy rain period passed, Tang Sen could finally return to the capital and hand in a satisfactory answer to the emperor.

Farewell to Li Yuanwai and Shi Yun and his daughter, Tang Sen returned to Chang'an, the capital. The rice and grain used for disaster relief were returned to Li Yuanbao in full, and Tang Sen would also praise Li Yuanbao in front of the emperor.

"Chen Aiqing, this mission was completed well. What reward do you want?" In the court, Emperor Tang asked Tang Sen with a smile. The disaster relief mission was completed quite well, which made Emperor Tang very satisfied and pleased.

Tang Sen stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I don't want any rewards for you. These are all things I should do. Whether I am a court official or a Buddhist disciple, this is my duty. As a court official, I should share my worries for the emperor and make blessings for the people of the world; and as a Buddhist disciple, I should also be compassionate and take it as my responsibility to save the people of the world. Moreover, I am now lacking anything, so I am not needed anything."

Emperor Tang laughed and said, "My meritorious ministers should be rewarded. Although you have nothing to do, I still have the reward. Otherwise, this reward rule will be broken by you. So, think about it carefully and see what you want? If it is reasonable, I will definitely reward you."

Tang Sen thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty, the reason why Weichen's disaster relief operation can be successful is inseparable from everyone's help. There are many touching examples in the disaster relief. If you want to reward, please reward them."

"Oh? Who are you? Tell me." Emperor Tang asked with a smile.

Tang Sen nodded and said, "First of all, what moved me were the people who were affected by the disaster. Although they were not rich, they were once farmers who lived and worked in peace. They had a few acres of land at home for their family to eat and drink. However, a heavy rain and flood caused them to lose the fields they depend on for survival and their homes. They turned from a happy small farmer to a disaster victim. What a blow to them! Even when they were forced to leave their hometowns and escape from disaster, they could not even eat a bite of food or drink a bit of water. However, they did not mess, did not steal or rob, and obeyed the arrangements of relevant personnel in a manner and took the initiative to help Weichen and others strengthen the river embankment. While the disaster was expanded, all of this touched Weichen, so I asked the emperor to commend these victims first."

"I was moved by you, but there are so many victims in this disaster? How do you want me to reward me?" Emperor Tang asked with a smile.

Tang Sen replied: "Actually, the people don't need much, so it's even easier to reward. Their crops this year have not been harvested, and it is obvious that they cannot pay taxes. So the minister asked the emperor to exempt them from their taxes this year. In addition, they also had to build houses and resume production. I asked the emperor to exempt them from taxes for another two years to reduce their burden. Therefore, the emperor only needs to reduce the taxes for the people in the disaster area for three years. I think that our great Tang Dynasty has a vast territory and a vast tax source. The temporary exemption of taxes in Xiaoxiang will not affect the taxes of the Tang Dynasty."

"Well, it's okay if you say that." Emperor Tang nodded and agreed.

Tang Sen continued: "The vast number of disaster victims who are obedient and help each other deserve rewards. Individuals who perform outstandingly should also receive rewards. They must also be widely publicized to enhance the sense of virtue in people's hearts, so that everyone in the Tang Dynasty can be virtuous, everyone does good deeds, and everyone is willing to help others. Therefore, I also recommend an advanced individual who performs outstandingly in disaster relief operations to the emperor."

"Advanced individual?" Emperor Tang smiled and praised: "This title is good, very good! Then tell me, what is the situation of the advanced individual you want to recommend?"

Tang Sen replied: "This person is named Li Yuanbao, the richest family in Jiangzhou and a businessman. During the disaster relief process, the Jiangzhou treasury had insufficient food storage. The disaster relief grain could not be transported because of the poor road. The disaster victims were about to starve and cold, which may even cause chaos. At this critical moment, Li Yuanbao realized his responsibility, that is, "be kind to be rich". He knew that "if you are poor, you will be safe, and if you are prosperous, you will be able to help the world." He resolutely handed over all his granaries to Weichen, and let Weichen distribute them to the victims regardless of gain or loss, so that the victims could not fill their stomachs after being hit by the loss of their homes. It is precisely because of the support of Li Yuanbao's tens of thousands of stones of grain that the tens of thousands of victims could not only not have any riots in the flooding situation, but instead helped Weichen strengthen the embankment of the river and prevent the expansion of the disaster. Therefore, Li Yuanbao should be commended!"

"Well, I agree, Li Yuanbao should be rewarded!" Emperor Tang said: "Do you have any good ideas?"

Tang Sen nodded and said, "Please forgive me for saying that for a benevolent and wealthy family like Li Yuanbao, the first thing to do is to reward him from his reputation, such as granting him a title of "benevolent and righteous tyrant" or "the first merchant of the Tang Dynasty" to show the court's attention. Second, the Ma family gang in Chang'an was confiscated some time ago, and the Ma family gang also involved some matters of grain transportation. The demise of the Ma family gang made the transportation between Chang'an and other places unsmooth. I was thinking that the matter of grain transportation is a major national event, and it is obviously not good for the country if it is held by a evil person like the Ma family gang. If it is handed over to a benevolent merchant, then it will be much more at ease and will not cause too much trouble.

The grain transportation is the affairs of the court, which is equivalent to doing business for the public. If the grain transportation people bully others with their power, wouldn’t it be a slander for the court? Therefore, I ask the emperor to hand over the affairs of the grain transportation of the former Ma Family Gang to be benevolent merchants like Li Yuanbao, which is much better. The grain transportation will definitely make a lot of money. Not only can it pay a lot of taxes to the court, but it is also much better to make such money into the hands of benevolent merchants than to earn those bad businessmen! This rewards Li Yuanbao and sets an example for merchants across the country, so that they understand that in times of crisis, they should stand up and support the country, support the court, and support the emperor."

"Haha, I heard you speak very well, and I think it must have been carefully considered." Emperor Tang said with a smile, but there seemed to be something else in his words.

Tang Sen still said loudly: "If you plan your own affairs in your position, and you will be trusted by the emperor, you will have to share your worries. Therefore, you recommend outstanding talents from all walks of life and hand them over to the emperor for use."

"Haha, okay, I'm allowed to report!" Emperor Tang said with a smile. Obviously, it is the same for everyone to hand over the canal transportation. Why not give it to a kind and righteous businessman? It would not be refuted to Tang Sen's face. After all, this matter is not worth mentioning by the emperor.

Tang Sen thanked him and said, "In addition, the wealth minister suggested that while ensuring the development of agriculture, the development of industry and commerce should be encouraged. Even if it is not encouraged, it cannot be used to suppress the development of industry and commerce. I believe that the development of commerce can bring more and greater taxes to the court. With sufficient taxes, what else can the country not buy? With money, you can ask the forging masters from the people to forge swords and armor for the court. With money, the Turks raised them.

The war horses must eventually be sold to the Tang Dynasty. The court will pay for training and training powerful cavalry units. By then, it will be the time for the Tang Dynasty to be absolutely stunning and proud of the world." The Tang Dynasty's Tang sword was still very sharp and tough. The famous Fusang Ninja sword is a version of the Tang sword, which shows the excellent local forging technology of the Tang sword. It is only because the Tang Dynasty failed to pay attention to the development and continuation of folk skills, these exquisite folk skills gradually lost.

Emperor Tang nodded repeatedly and said, "I am very moved when you say it. Okay, after going down, I will write your thoughts to me. I will think about it carefully."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Tang Sen finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Chapter completed!